CTLA4 Protein Abnormality And Its Role In The Progression Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

[摘要] Systemic lupus erythematosus affects multiple organs by the antibodies produced against ourown antigens. The inhibitory CTLA-4 molecule has a crucial role in regulation of this immune response.The normal T-cell activation requires a primary signal by way of T-cell receptors and supplementarysignals received from co-receptor molecules CD28 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). CD28provides positive signals to promote T-cell response, while CTLA4 provides negative regulatory signal todown-regulate T-cells response. Any imbalance of these signals’ paves way for autoimmune disorders likeSLE. Here, we measured the level of soluble CTLA-4 (sCTLA-4) in plasma and thus assessed its role in thepathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematous. This is a case control study in which we estimated the levelof sCTLA-4 protein in plasma of 50 SLE patients and compared them with 50 age and sex matchedcontrols. SLE patients have significantly elevated levels of sCTLA4 protein in plasma of SLE patientscompared to the healthy controls (p<0.001). We conclude that the CTLA‐4 molecule abnormality appearsto play a significant role in the development of SLE in the Indian population. Hence sCTLA-4 can prove anovel surrogate marker for the diagnosis of disease.

[学科分类] 工程和技术（综合）

[关键词] CTLA-4 gene;polymorphism;Autoimmune disorder;Systemic Lupus Erythematosus;CD28